I’m absolutely speechless at the beauty of this story. Set the Stars Alight is one of those rare books that speaks of timeless truth and light through the familiar refrain of story. It is one that will cause the reader to see the world differently. To see the intertwining Hope that binds humanity from creation to the cross with its message echoed in every longing for home and every story of redemption.

Through two equally compelling (and brilliantly intertwining!) stories, Amanda Dykes draws the reader in with her lyrical style. Lucy and Dash, in the present day, embody friendship, connection, and home. Their grief and longings feel relatable and realistic as they struggle with reconnecting, the consequences of missed communication, and the strength of their shared history. One that incorporates the tiniest hint of a fairytale played out in “real life” through shared story, light, stars, and seas

The historical thread of Frederick Hanford’s story and life twists its way through the pages with overarching themes of friendship, brotherhood, and sacrifice. To speak of the depth and meaning of his role in an act of selfless love would be too revealing. I’ll only say that his character is surprising and the most emotionally moving part of the story.

Through Lucy and Dash’s renewed connection and newfound countryside friendships, the legacy of Frederick comes to light; as does the inheritance of story and wonder Lucy’s own father has left in her heart.

With bright secondary characters and myriad layers of meaning connecting every element of every chapter, Set the Stars Alight has earned its place on my all time favorites list. I can recommend it to any reader as a tale both heart-wrenching and healing, incorporating adventure, intelligence, romance, and dreams with an overarching message of redemption.

Thank you to the publisher for the digital copy. I purchased my own print copy. This is my honest review.

In her poetic voice, Amanda Dykes weaves together an unforgettable tale that takes you to the stars, to the deepest oceans, while also grounding you on solid ground. This is one of those stories that you have no idea how the author came up with it and you know she has a gift. No review can do it justice.

Set the Stars Alight has a unique feel. It follows two different stories with separate timelines. The modern day story follows Lucy and Dash. They’re adults now, but we’re treated to whimsical flashes of their childhood growing up together. I actually thought the modern day story had more of a fairytale feel than the story set 200 years ago. Lucy is an academic marine archaeologist, and Dash is a forensic astronomer. They reunite and work together to secure a research grant to find the lost ship Jubilee. They eventually start searching for it on their own.

The secondary storyline is about two young men and the lady they both love, and it’s connected to this lost ship. I did find that circumstances regarding the ship and its location strained credulity. I also felt like their was something magical drawing Dash and Lucy to discover the ship ruins. There was no way Lucy’s father’s stories, riddles, and clues could’ve led them to find it.

There are Christian themes, but they’re handled with a light touch. I loved how Lucy’s father told her there was One who was coming...and coming...and coming for her. Fighting for her heart.

“Every breath a gift. He sets the stars alight, my girl. And we open our eyes to this in in benevolent defiance of the dark...by remembering. Take note. Live deeply.”

A slow paced story with lyrical writing that had a bit of an otherworldly feel.

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is my first book by Amanda Dykes and just wow… Set the Stars Alight has taken me a few days to really process and get my thoughts together on it.

I honestly have no idea where to start with this review. I have never read a book quite like this one. It is full of lyrical words and phrases that set your mind alight with thoughts and pondering’s about the deeper thoughts of the world. Then interwoven are two stories about finding the way home from out of the dark. It does not read like your typical dual timeline story. It is two stories so deeply and flawlessly put together that it almost seems like a story inside of a story, rather than two separate stories intermingling. I loved the mystery of it, fitting clues together in my mind and thinking about the meaning behind the words the characters were saying. I really enjoyed this thought-provoking story.

“Nothing is impossible. Just think. Pay attention. Stretch forward. When things seem dark, Lucy, that is when you fight for the light. I think it is the duty to keep the stories, to pass them on. It is our duty- and our honor. In a world as dark as ours, people forget how to see the light. So we remind them by telling the truth, fighting the dark, paying attention…setting the stars alight.”

The characters showed almost a banked set of emotions, letting you see little bits of themselves over time as you got to know them better. I loved their selfless actions, their growth, and their deep pondering’s that led to an undercurrent of deeper meaning throughout the whole story.

Truly a very well-done book of characters with lots of layers, emotions, and mystery. I give it 5 out of 5 stars for the amazingly well-done dual timeline, the historical facts, and mystery, and for making me think deeply about what was happening inside these pages.

*I volunteered to read this story in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

This is a masterpiece, brilliantly written as this author weaves an amazing tale, with characters you want to learn more about. This is a captivating story line with a smooth a time slip aspect to it. The author has flawed characters jump off the page and into your heart as they journey through time dealing with almost impossible situations to get to the buried treasure. It’s an adventure none of them thought they’d be on and none like you’ve read.

Lucy Clairmont’s family loves to tell stories. Lucy’s father cleverly passes down their family heritage through these magical stories of the past. They also loved to share them with friends who found them just as fascinating.

I loved what the author had to say in author notes to readers about this unforgettable story, “……”As I wrote this story, God whispered a bit of bolstering encouragement into my heart about it. If I had to assign one word to describe it, it would be this: wonder.”

“Not wonderful – it felt far from wonderful, as I worked through the various states of it’s creation. Not wondrous – unless you mean wondrously perplexing and how in the world are all these pieces ever going to mesh together, ever?!”

(I wondered that myself! They were both gripping story lines. Grin! It is fascinating how she brought things together)

“No..just wonder. An aching word, a thing radiating hope if we will but pay attention and be amazed at the miracles of this life, of this very world.”

“Because, you see, this world can be a dark place. I don’t need to expound. We all know it. We see it every day. We feel the heaviness of it descend when we turn on the news.”

“But there is something else in this world, too. And it is light. Hope. Wonder. There is proof all around us, stories in every nook and cranny, promises yearning with joy to be fulfilled. That is what this story is about, at its very core. Wonder. Light that fights the dark. I pray that truth might come through my meager words, that it might breathe life in the spaces between my letters, words. Lines.”

The author does just that. This is a book to be experienced, not rushed through. This would be a wonderful book club for your next book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

The writing style for Set the Stars Alight is lyrical and whimsical, which I love. The characters such you in and tug on your heartstrings. I love the lost ship element, too, as it added a bit of fantastical to an otherwise purely fictional book. The blending of the time periods was a bit difficult for me but I feel like that is a personal problem rather than a fault of the book's.

I recommend not to rush through this book--the writing should be savored and enjoyed at a slower pace.

Set the Stars Alight
by Amanda Dykes


Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers
Christian | Romance
Pub Date 30 Jun 2020



I am reviewing a copy of Set the Stars Alight through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:





Like her family, Lucy Clairmont has treasured the magic of the past and her childhood fascination with the stories of the high seas has led her to a career as a marine archaeologist. After tragedy strikes it Isar American Forensic Astronomer Dashel that she turns to, for his knowledge of the stars so that he may help her unearth the truth behind the puzzle she's discovered in her family home.





Two hundred years earlier the seeds of love are sown between a boy and a girl who spend their days playing in a cave, a secret cave, while the you f son of the estate, a privileged young boy looks on, wishing he could join them. After the children grow up, war leads unthinkable heartbreak, a story of love, and betrayal as well as heartbreak sacrifice and redemption unfolds, secrets that were held by the passage of time.




Lucy and Dash decide to journey to a mysterious old estate on the East Sussex coast, in their search they learn of a community of souls who have a long hidden tale that may hold the answers to hold the answers that can lead to the healing they both desire.




I give Set the Stars Alight five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

The best way I can describe this book is SIMPLY LOVELY. It is beautifully written, engaging, and fanciful in all the right ways. The split time story unfolds at a perfectly timed pace, and the ending is satisfying. I truly enjoyed this book!

Marine Archaelogist Lucy Clairmont has been brought up in a world that is full of wonder and mystery. She enjoys a closely knit family unit - she and her loving parents, who easily fold the lonely neighbor boy (Dashel Greene) into their lives. When the family experiences a major tragedy and Dashel is also forced to move back to the States, Lucy's heart is more than a little broken. She soldiers on, but life is never again the same.

When grown up Lucy and grown up Dash reconnect, they work together to solve a centuries-old mystery. What they find surprises everyone. The full picture unfolds intelligently, tying the knots between Lucy and Dashel's present day adventures with a love story from the early 1800's - but it's not a traditional one. It's better. This is a book I will be recommending and thinking about for a long time.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A magical tale that swooped me in from the very beginning and didn't let go even after the final page. I've long been a fan of Amanda Dykes... her writing is simply exquisite and I've learned much from her artistic way with words. So glad to see this book getting the praise and accolades it deserves. Lucy and Dash are a delight! What a treasure this piece of fiction is! Loved, loved, loved it! Highly recommend.

The wide-eyed wonder, lyrical prose, and unforgettable cast of adorable characters captured my heart. It’s hard to describe the wondrous feeling this book gave me . . . like the enchanting sparkle of fireflies on a balmy summer’s evening . . . or like sharing stories around a crackling autumn bonfire . . . or like listening to the sweet ABBA song “I Have a Dream” for the millionth time. After hugging the book (my Kindle) countless times, this gorgeous novel has been indelibly added to my list of All-Time Favorite Books in the Whole Wide World.

London, England, 2000. “‘Let the story . . . begin.’ And with that, the walls fell away from their narrow cottage and imagination swept them to far-off lands, the world around them transformed in Father’s rugged cadence. The growl of the Underground beneath them tumbled straight into their tale as the sound of the waking dragon. Or the roll of a storm-tossed ship. Or once, even, the dwellers of an underground city.” Lucy and Dash, childhood friends, bond over dusty old books, her Dad’s stories, her Mum’s cookies, an atlas of oceans, and a homemade telescope. Years later and all grown up, the girl entranced by the sea and the boy in awe of the stars begin searching for the HMS Jubilee, a ship which mysteriously fell off the map two centuries ago on the same day that an infamous traitor of the Royal Navy, Frederick Hanford, disappeared.

East Sussex, England, 1802. “Maria Hanford had not been the sort of mother who would sing Frederick a lullaby or draw him into an embrace, but these late-night concertos, he knew, were sent to do battle on his behalf…. The notes tumbled down the corridor…colliding with Father’s yelling as a force sent to shatter the pummeling words, to wall them away from her son…. But kindness, as it happened, did not reside only in Handel’s Messiah. It also dwelled in the blistered hands of a shepherd who gathered up Frederick’s shivering body from beneath the lone yew tree as if he were a lost lamb. He brought him home to a single-room cottage, laid him on a mattress of straw before the crackling fire. In his nine years Frederick had never known such warmth. Not from the fireplaces of all the twenty-seven chimneys that turned his own home’s roofline into that of a fortress. Nor had he ever experienced the odd sort of light that seeped into his soul when woken by the sound of laughter.”

Both stories in this dual timeline are so compelling, carefully woven and beautifully crafted. Each move from one time period to another gracefully reunited me with old friends and never felt jarring.

“She remembered how the stories made her feel. Full of longing, like she’d missed the times of yore and wonder and was born instead into a time of plastic and speed.”

I recommend this lovely novel to folks who enjoy stories about stories and books about the magnificent power of words, to those who love wondering and wandering and meaning and symbolism fused with logic and science and the majesty of the universe.

“She checked her watch. ‘There’s so much . . . librarying to do,’ she said.”

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for a digital advance review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. All quotations in this review were copied from the published edition of the book.

Set the Stars Alight is a very well written book. The author has done a great job with this time slip plot. The two stories are woven together seamlessly. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I don’t think Amanda Dykes could disappoint. To take a story about a long lost ship, the broken patriarchal relationship between a father and son, then finding a family who takes him as he is, and then that boy giving his life to make sure the daughter has all she ever needs. In duel time, the simple stories of a watchmaker, his wife, and daughter taking in the lost soul of a boy and bringing all his dreams to realization and watching out for their daughter even though she didn’t know it.

The stories of Fredrick, Elias, and Juliette in 1811 and how Frederick looked to them as family. To help Elias become the husband and father he should be to Juliette and their unborn child, but in order to do so disgrace his own father. It was Juliette who Fredrick felt he owed the most for her father saved him, but her father’s death was most on his mind and he felt his hands. When Fredrick is arrested for treason, a mysterious person helps him and disappears on the Jubilee.

In 2020 Dash, an astrologer who uses the stars to solve age old mysteries, and Lucy who is searching for the long lost Jubilee meet again after years away, with wounds of hurt, and a lifetime of stories from her mum and dad that may or may not lead to the mysterious Jubilee.

I loved this story and how the two stories intersected. Thank you to Netgalley For this advanced copy. I was not compensated for my review.

This is the tale of two individuals separated by two hundred years, one of whom was forced to live a lie, and one of whom grew into living the truth. It's the story of how stories weave through our lives, and it's about the value of friends who can either make us true to ourselves or else split us apart from who we really are.

Now for the technical stuff: this is a timeslip novel, meaning you're going to spend a handful of chapters in each protagonist's perspective before heading back to the other one's. I found Frederick's story a lot more compelling than Lucy's, and I had wished we'd spent more time with him. Lucy has this annoying habit of not following up on anything, which may be why some of the reviewers characterize the novel as "slow." It's not that it's slow as much as Lucy is content to just...sit with things.

Eg, when Dash shows a group of people his resume, every one of them gets a shocked expression at about the same point on the paper. What would be the first thing you asked him after that? "Dude, what did you DO?" Right? Except Lucy never asks him. Eventually she finds out when someone else tells her, but before then, she doesn't even say, "So, what have you been doing for the past fifteen years?" (I laughed when Dash later says, "You never let a mystery lie." Poor guy has rose colored glasses.)

The prose is soft and lyrical, and readers who like literary-style fiction will like this as well. It's immersive and I think the author does a good job with it.

I deducted a star because of the ending. Lucy receives a letter at the end that undercuts everything she's done, all her research, and all her struggles. It makes her the punchline of a joke, and I found that disheartening in the extreme. Glancing over the reviews, though, it doesn't sound like anyone else had a problem with that, though, so "Your Mileage May Vary."

At any rate, this is a sweet story for people who like ships, stories, and interwoven lives.

#SetTheStarsAlight #NetGalley

This book is one that took a little while to draw me in, but once it did, I couldn't put it down. A novel that has some depth to it and weaves a story around two different time periods. The story takes place in England.
Lucy Clairmont sits at the feet of her father and listens to the stories that he tells. Dashel Greene, a young boy, who is being raised by his aunt, is taken in by the Clairmont's and he too listens to the stories. Lucy becomes a maritime archaeologist and Dashel, who left as a young man to live in America becomes a forensic astrologer.
Lucy is fascinated by the two century old stories of a ship lost at sea, name Jubilee. She has made it her life quest to find the missing ship. Lucy hasn't had much contact with Dash, and misses him calling her Matchstick Girl, The other time period takes place in the early 1800's,Fredrick Hanford is destined to become an Admiral. His story is just as captivating as Lucy's.
Seeing how these two stories weave together is a mystery in itself. A story of friendship, loss, and romance.

Set the Stars Alight is a beautifully written novel. It is a story of the past and present colliding with one another. In the present, lost boy Dashel Greene and matchstick girl Lucy Claremont search for evidence of the lost ship Jubilee from the tales told to them by her father. In the past, Frederick Hanford, Elias Flint, and Juliette Heath find their lives intertwined with one another. Who are these individuals? What are their connections to each other? These are the answers the book will provide.

Dykes has a way with words, spinning a magical tale through vivid imagery. For instance, when light hits an opal it is “lit into an explosion of colour beneath its cloudy surface” or the sunset slipping into dusk is “a waltz of pastels into a muted grey.” I was dazzled by her poetry and, more than once, paused to allow myself to soak in the descriptions and the emotions that emanated from her writing. Despite the lyrical prose, I ultimately found it difficult to fully absorb the book and its characters. What should have been a compelling novel with all its grace and wonder was ultimately hindered by its slow pace. It wasn’t until about the middle of the book that there was any actual progress into the search for the Jubilee. Most of the time, I felt the characters were just beyond my grasp, disconnected from them as they were searching for connections with each other. I found the best moments in the book to be at the beginning, the moments of introspection by Lucy, and the last few chapters with the characters from the past.

While I did not enjoy the book nearly as much as I hoped, those who are able to weather the pace of the novel will be presented with a story of hope and the potential to be achingly beautiful. Having finished the book, I am setting it aside so that I may be able to reread it later with a fresh pair of eyes. Maybe then the story will be as captivating as the cover tells me it should be.

I'm a huge fan of split-time novels, old mysteries, and childhood sweetheart stories, so I knew right away I'd love this book! Amanda Dykes has a charming, lyrical writing voice that inspires me to stop and savor beautifully crafted sentences, much as I might want to zoom through the book to find out what happened! While astronomy isn't my particular cup of tea, the way these elements point back to God and remind us of his love and care are exactly what our hearts need right now. Thank you for writing this beautiful book.

I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley and was not required to leave a review. Opinions are my own.

Amanda Dykes first introduced me to dual-time period books with "Whose Waves These Are". Now, I've been blessed with a complimentary copy of her latest book, Set the Stars Alight.

The contemporary portion of this dual-time period, is focused on Lucy and Dash. Lucy's parents take in the young boy, Dash, to live in their home. I love the cute nicknames, Lucy as Matchstick Girl, and Dash as The Lost Boy. What's adorable is that Dash is the one that gives her this nickname because her home was formally a matchstick factory.

Lucy's father gathers the two together to tell them stories, pausing to assure they grasp the special meaning behind them. It is these stories that prod Lucy and Dash into a surprising adventure when they are older, after Lucy's father dies. This journey is intriguing, and touching.

The historical timeline of this book takes place in the 1800s. The main characters, Juliette, Elias, and Frederick also grow from forged childhood friendships that last into adulthood. This journey has unexpected pitfalls, but lovely rewards. I connected with all the characters, but I suspect Frederick is nestled a little deeper in my heart. Read the book, and see if he does the same to you.

Both timelines have the underlying theme of family, respect, honor and the sacrifices one takes to hopefully gain a blessed outcome.

4 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Set the Stars Alight has a lyrical, prose feeling to it. Almost a rhythm of sorts. It took me a few chapters to get that rhythm under my feet, but once I was in, this story led me in a beautiful dance. It had my heart racing, my eyes tearing, and my lungs out of breath. Amanda Dykes takes the reader on a journey through the stars with this one. She never ceases to amaze me with the depth of her stories! Absolutely beautiful!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have so many thoughts and emotions swirling inside me having just closed the back of the book on the story of Set the Stars Alight. Where do you begin for a review of a book that brings to mind the wonder of The Hobbit (for the adventure) or even The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (for the childlike wonder). I feel like Set the Stars Alight is on a plain far above me with a message so profound, hidden amongst the words, that is deeper that I can ever truly comprehend.

Lucy and Dash have childhoods that are bound together at early ages that God had to have set in motion before the beginning of time. Lucy's parents grabbed the little girl heart in me and wished they could've been mine. They were love, and joy, and goodness for Lucy and subsequently, Dashel.

And then we fade to the early 1800s and meet Frederick, Juliette, and Elias. A story of lives intertwining that I never could've predicted and a love so deep and almost, dare I say, sacred, that it blew me away! How words can spill forth from an author to make me feel and understand the depth of a character's love and thought process so completely was surprising to me.

It seems to me, as beautiful as the cover of this book is, that it should be bound in cloth or leather as though it was written in 1802 and not released 2020. It captures ideas and moments like the stories of yesteryear and it filled me up as I read the words!

I couldn't decide whose story I wanted to keep reading. I was so invested in the current time of Lucy and Dash's search for the Jubilee, but then I couldn't wait to get back to the 1800s of Frederick, Juliette, and Elias. Frederick and Dash were so similar in the essence of who they were at their core. They were profound in how they viewed the world and those closest to them.

There probably isn't another novel in which I have so many sticky notes with quotes I want to share. My heart soared in parts of the story and hoped beyond hope at other points. I welled up with tears a couple of times with either a heart so full or near to breaking! Listen, the book pulls out all of your emotions. It's unavoidable.

I realize I'm being incredibly vague in regards to anything specific, but the story is so full of bits and pieces, large and small, that to say too much would be to give away what should be left for the reader to discover! All I can say is, "Who's ready to go exploring some sea caves?"

I finished this story several days ago and have not written a review yet because I just don't think the words in a review can do it justice. I have seen Amanda Dykes books recommended by so many people that I knew that I just had to give them a try. This is the first book I have read by her, but will not be the last. I am not typically a fan of historical fiction, but have found that I enjoy a split timeline with modern day. From reading this book, I have found that this author has perfected the art of connecting the past to the present. I cannot even begin to describe the beauty of her writing. It is so poetic. She draws the reader in to these almost magical places and you feel like you are right there experiencing the adventures right along side the characters. In my opinion, this is definitely one of most well-written books of 2020.

Thank you to Bethany House and Netgalley for an e-book of this story. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.